IRA HONOR COUNCIL AWARD

This is presented by the International Reading Association each Spring. It is the highest honor bestowed on any reading council. ORA desires that each local council in the state of Oklahoma achieve this goal in 2006-2007. 

Contact:

The Regional Directors for Oklahoma Reading Association

OKLAHOMA AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
 

The highest state award given to local councils is the

Award of Excellence!  

The ORA desires that each local council in the state of Oklahoma achieve this goal in 2006-2007! Regional Directors should work with the councils in their district to encourage and support the application process for Oklahoma Award of Excellence.  

THE DEADLINE FOR APPLYING FOR THIS AWARD IS FEBRUARY 1, 2007 SEND ALL MATERIALS TO YOUR REGIONAL DIRECTOR, WHO IS YOUR AWARD OF EXCELLENCE CHAIRMAN

Past Recipients of the Award of Excellence

Checklist for Award of Excellence

Contact:

The Regional Directors for the Oklahoma Reading Association

ADMINSTRATORS AWARD
2006-2007

The Oklahoma Reading Association seeks to recognize administrators who

• Put students first,
• Stress basic reading skills at all levels,
• Get both sides of an issue,
• Support and encourage students and teachers,
• Do not ask of another colleague what he/she wouldn’t do,
• Always strive to improve,
• Are professional in attitude, dress, and words,
• Always try to be positive,
• Are role models,
• Are good stewards of school facilities,
• Are honest, dedicated, and flexible,
• Are active in the community,
• Encourage ORA membership, and attendance at reading conferences.  

This is an opportunity for councils to recognize one of their district’s outstanding administrators in reading education. Administrators are the instructional leader for the school campus. Send nominations to the award coordinator.

Mikela Williams
4813 SE 85 th Terrace
Oklahoma City , OK 73135
home: 405-606-7095
work: 405-735-4600

harvardsis2003@yahoo.com

ORA CELEBRATE LITERACY AWARD

The purpose of the ORA Celebrate Literacy Award is to identify and recognize a local individual, agency, or institution that has made significant contributions to literacy. Recipients are honored through an awards ceremony at the annual ORA Leadership Conference.

PARENTS AND READING AWARD
2006-2007

The purpose of this award is to recognize councils for their outstanding service in encouraging parents to read to their children. Let ORA know what your council is doing to encourage parents to read to their children. Consider seeking additional funding for your project from local or area businesses

Some of the projects councils have completed are:

• Councils give new parents paperback books by well-known authors and brochures with suggested reading for different age levels in a bag. These are given to new parents at the hospital.
• Paperback books and a rattle were wrapped up with a diaper and were given to expectant parents at a local exposition or festival.
• Book baskets were provided and refilled at a local doctor’s office.
• If you have a mall close by, you could set up a booth for parents.

The Oklahoma Reading Association Coordinator for this award is  

Jyme Tiner
2502 Lakewood Drive
Chickasha, OK 73018
home: 405-224-6733
work: 405-222-6540
fax: 405-222-6567

gtiner@cox.net

DEADLINE FOR YOU ENTRY IS FEBRUARY 1, 2007.

Past Recipients of the Parents and Reading Award

ORA COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

The purpose of the Community Service Award is to recognize councils for their outstanding services to their communities and to literacy. Past recipients of this award include

Osage Reading Council

Tulsa County Reading Council

Northwest Reading Council

Lakeland Reading Council

Cherokee Reading Council

The Oklahoma Reading Association is pleased to announce the guideline and procedures for this award. A council may wish to develop a portfolio of activities or items relating to their projects. This approach gives a council the opportunity to select their best items for inclusion and assist in the application process.

Items that can be included in the portfolio are as follows:

• Pictures
• Newspaper Articles
• Magazine Articles
• Audiotape (10 minutes)
• Videotapes (10 minutes or less)
• Brochures
• Handouts
• Correspondence

We encourage you to submit a portfolio of your community project. This is an opportunity for your council to be recognized for its commitment and creative endeavors for literacy in the community.

Entries must be postmarked by February 1 and should be sent to the Celebrate Literacy Award Coordinator

Zenda Willcut
10432 E Rose Glen Drive
Claremore, Ok 74019
home: 918-770-1538
work: 918-699-7301
fax: 918-341-3704

zwillcut@claremore.k12.ok.us

Application for Community Projects and Service Award

DR. RICHARD P. WILLIAMS
READING SPECIALIST SCHOLARSHIP

Oklahoma Reading Association (ORA) is pleased to announce continuation of a scholarship program for deserving educators who are pursuing an Oklahoma Standard Reading Specialist Certificate. This $500 scholarship will be granted to an educator who meets the qualification specified below. The applicant must:

• Hold current valid Standard Oklahoma Teaching Certificate.
• Desire to earn an Oklahoma Standard Reading Specialist Certificate.
• Be eligible for graduate study in reading at a state university and be able to provide proof of such eligibility.
• Be a member of ORA and a local reading council.
• Be recommended by three professionals (public school or higher education) who know of the applicant’s ability to complete a graduate program and/or instructional performance.
• Submit a brief autobiography that includes personal and professional goals and establishes need for this scholarship.
• Previous scholarship recipients are NOT eligible.
  

The attached pages include the application and reference form. Reference forms are to be completed by three professional educators who can establish the applicant’s need, professional competence, and potential for successful graduate study.

The ORA Scholarship Committee will meet during the week following the February 1 deadline to screen all applications and select the scholarship winners. The scholarship recipient will be notified by telephone and letter and will be an honored guest at an ORA award event. The check will be presented at that time.

The ORA is committed to furthering our members’ mutual goal of improving reading instruction in Oklahoma. This scholarship program is one of the ways through which the organization strives to achieve this goal.

Submit application by February 1, 2007

Past recipients of the Dr. Richard Williams Reading Specialist Scholarship

Application for the Dr. Richard Williams Reading Specialist Scholarship

Contact:

Chairman
Sylvia Hurst
3101 Eagle Pass Lane
Edmond, Ok 73013

E-mail: gshurst@cox.net

The PRESIDENT’S CUP
Increase in Membership  

The President’s Cup Guidelines
Goals to Increase Membership

Earn Golden Book Pin, Silver Book Pin, or Bronze Pin

Councils with less than 15 ORA members:

• Achieve minimum of 15 ORA members, earn Bronze Book Pin.
• Achieve minimum of 16 ORA members, earn Silver Book Pin.
• Achieve minimum of 17 ORA members, earn Gold Book Pin.

Councils with 15 to 99 ORA members:

• Increase membership by 20%, earn Bronze Book Pin.
• Increase membership by 25%, earn Silver Book Pin.
• Increase membership by 30%, earn Gold Book Pin.

Councils with 100+ ORA members:

• Add 20 ORA members, earn Bronze Book Pin.
• Add 25 ORA members, earn Bronze Book Pin.
• Add 30 ORA members, earn Bronze Book Pin.

The president of the council and the membership director each receive a pin when the council meets the above criteria.

Membership Committee Chair
Dawn Everett
#8 Creekwood Springs
Woodward, OK 73801
home: 580-256-1671
cell: 580-922-1116
work: 580-922-7381
fax: 580-922-7081

deverett@seiling.k12.ok.us

TEACHERS AS READERS

Can personal reading enhance teaching in general and teaching reading and language arts specifically? Yes and when teachers read and enjoy quality literature with confidence, they contribute to the rich, literate environment of the classroom. By arranging book groups or informal discussion groups, teachers will be encouraged to read and discuss what they have read with others from a wide variety of books: children's picture books, young adult books, adult fiction and nonfiction. Councils, school faculties or teachers should provide regular opportunities for teachers to explore own literacy, share literature with colleagues, model lifelong reading pleasure, and reflect upon personal experience with books. Please submit title, author, publisher, ISBN number, and a short paragraph about the book teachers should read to the web address in the box.

Also, teachers may create a Teachers as Reader Book Group and receive a grant of $250 to buy books to read and discuss.

What are Teachers as Readers and how do you Facilitate the group?

Grant information for Teachers as Readers

Contact:

Chairman
Mary Swanson
Rt. Box 478
Stroud, OK 74079
Work: 918.449.6598
Home: 918.368.2285
Fax: 918.449.6146

ESSAY CONTEST FOR STUDENTS

ORA is sponsoring an essay contest for students in grades 9 - 12. This year's theme is "Dear Author." Students should select a favorite author, living or dead, and write an essay in the form of a letter addressed to that author. Students may determine the specific content of the essay but should include why the author is significant to them. Essays will be judged in two divisions: 9th - 10th grade and 11th - 12th grade. The first-place winner in each division will receive $100; second-place winners will receive $75; third-place winners will receive $50. Winning essays will be published on the ORA website. Teachers of the winning students will receive certificates of recognition.

Information and Entry Form

Contact:

Deborah Yarbrough
1311 17 th St.
Woodward, OK 73801
Home: 580-254-2660
Work: 580-256-5329
Fax: 580-256-8716

E-mail: Yarbrough@woodwardps.net

18 TH ANNUAL OKLAHOMA CELEBRATION OF READING

The Oklahoma Celebration of Reading, the Oklahoma State Department of Education and the Oklahoma Reading Association are once again challenging Oklahoma children to read more by sponsoring the 17th annual Oklahoma Celebration of Reading. This year's theme, "Happy 100 th Birthday, Oklahoma! Make it a Celebration of Reading" will give readers unlimited opportunities to explore books and expand their reading capabilities.

Application and information about the 18 th Annual Oklahoma Celebration of Reading

Kids Caught Reading, Principals’ Challenge, and Essay/Poetry Contest Entry Forms

If you have questions, contact
Oweita Calvert, Director, Oklahoma Celebration of Reading, (580) 497-3922,
e-mail:<oweitachey@dobsonteleco.com> ,
Betty Clifton, Assistant Director, Oklahoma Celebration of Reading, (405) 842-5657,
or
Rose Carlson, State Department of Education, (405) 521-4514,
e-mail rose_carlson@sde.state.ok.us>.

AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING
LITERACY INSTRUCTION BY A BEGINNING TEACHER

In Respectful Memory of Dr. Jimmie Russell

Award Description
 

Dr. Jimmie Russell 1950-2002

Dr. Jimmie Russell was a professor of education at Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) and was an active member of the Oklahoma Higher Education Reading Council. Her dedication to helping children was evident in her work with preservice teachers, her enthusiastic participation in professional organizations, and her everyday life. Dr. Pam Robinson, Teacher Education Division Chair at OBU, wrote, “ ’Hey, I have an idea!’ and ‘We can do....’ were two of Jimmie's key phrases and two of the many things I miss hearing from her. She was always coming up with ideas on how to better her classes or the teacher education program and they were always good ideas.”

The members of OHERC have chosen to honor Dr. Jimmie Russell by continuing her legacy of caring and advocating for children’s literacy development throughout the state of Oklahoma.

OHERC

The Oklahoma Higher Education Reading Council is made up of literacy education faculty members from Oklahoma colleges and universities and others involved in the education of preservice literacy teachers. The purposes of OHERC include promoting mutual understanding and cooperative work among Oklahoma reading teacher educators, and disseminating knowledge helpful in the solution of problems related to reading instruction. We are a council of the Oklahoma Reading Association and the International Reading Association.

Award Criteria

This award will be given to a teacher in his/her first three years of teaching. Those characteristics that will be considered are the teacher’s:

• focus on individual student’s literacy needs,
• use of multiple forms of literacy assessment,
• instruction that is related to assessment,
• integration of literacy across the curriculum,
• sense of purposeful enjoyment that permeates his/her work with children, and
• commitment to the teaching profession

Award Honors

The honoree will receive a plaque and a $100 gift certificate for the purchase of books for his/her classroom. The award will be announced in the recipient’s local newspaper and will be given at the beginning of the next school year.

Contact Information:

Dr. Martie Young
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
2929 E. Randolph
Enid, OK 73701
 
OHERC Beginning Teacher Award

PURPOSE:

The Oklahoma Reading Association annually recognizes influences in education in Oklahoma by a local council significantly involved with advocacy for literacy.

ELIGIBILITY:

Any local council that has made major contributions to advocacy in Oklahoma in three of the following areas is eligible to apply for this award:

• Educating members about advocacy skills and legislative issues.
• Creating an action plan and council network to advocate for educational and legislative issues.
• Activating efforts to influence and respond to state public policy.

CRITERIA:  

ENTRY DEADLINE: June 1

LOCAL COUNCIL AWARD OF EXCELLENCE CHECKLIST

AWARD:

A council representative such as the president or legislative representative will be honored at the annual ORA Leadership Conference held in July.

PROCEDURES:

1. The Oklahoma Reading Association Board shall solicit nominations from the local councils of ORA,
2. The Executive Committee and Legislative Committee shall -review supporting documents and make the final recommendations to the Board.
3. The Oklahoma Reading Association shall approve the final selection.
4. Winners shall be honored at the annual ORA Leadership Conference.

(For further information contact our website

www.oklahomareadingassociation.org or the state legislative co-chairs. Mail nomination fomr to one of the award co-chairs

Oklahoma Reading Association

Memorial Travel Scholarship for Professional Development Established in Memory of Margaret Winstead and Honoring Others who have Supported Reading/Literacy in Oklahoma

General Information  

Basic Criteria:

The applicant must have been employed by a public or private school or school district in Oklahoma for the past three years and presently be teaching in an elementary or secondary classroom and/or working on an advanced degree in the field of education full time.

General Directions:

1 . ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE MAILED OR SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY BY October 1, 2006 to: Linda Roberts, 12312 E. 81st Street North , Owasso, Ok  74055; LRobertsNBCTOkla@aol.com. Please note that only applications submitted by this deadline will be considered.

2. Priority will be given to first time attendees to an IRA affiliated conference.

3. Submit only material requested.

4. The applicant statements must be typed, double-spaced, on 8 ½ x 11 sheets of paper. Statements of support from school officials must also be double-spaced.

5. The first page of the application must be the “Applicant Information Form.” Staple all pages together in the upper left-hand corner in the following order-Applicant Information Form, Proposed Budget, Professional Information, Statement from the Applicant, Statement of Support. Do not enclose in a folder or binder.

6. If mailing, please retain one copy of the application for your records. Mail a total of five sets of the application materials, postmarked by January 15, 2007 to:

Linda Roberts- ORA Travel Scholarship Chair
12312 E. 81 st Street North
Owasso, Ok 74055

7. If you have questions regarding the application process or need additional copies of the application forms, please check the Oklahoma Reading Association’s website or call the scholarship coordinator at 918-376-2250.

Scholarship Disbursement:

The travel scholarship will be disbursed in this manner. The first payment will be sent for the conference registration once verification of the registration is made. The second payment will be sent to the travel agency or to the individual once the airline ticket has been purchased and receipt of that is sent. The remainder of the travel scholarship will be paid directly to the recipient approximately five business days prior to the date of the conference. ORA will limit the scholarship to $1,000. Receipts must be submitted after travel for all other expenses . If you do not attend the conference, reimbursement of all funds will be paid in full to the Oklahoma Reading Association.

  Application for the ORA Travel Scholarship

EXEMPLARY READING PROGRAM AWARD

The Exemplary Reading Program Award recognizes outstanding reading and language arts programs at all grade levels (elementary, middle, and high school). Its purpose is to call the public’s attention to outstanding programs in schools throughout Canada and the United States. Each participating state and province can choose one winning school a year.

All public, private, and parochial schools in the United States and Canada are eligible for the award, provided the state or province in which the school is located has an Exemplary Reading Program Award Committee currently in place to judge program applications from that state or province. At least one faculty or staff member of the school must be a current IRA member.

Applications must be postmarked no later than November 15 and received at IRA Headquarters no later than November 22. Headquarters will then forward applications to the state/provincial Exemplary Reading Program Award Committees for review.

Application for the Exemplary Reading Program Award

The Oklahoma Reading Association coordinator for this award is

Stephan E. Sargent
Northeastern State University
College of Education
3100 East New Orleans Street
Work # 164, Building “C”
Broken Arrow, OK 74014
home: 918-747-4211
cell:
work: 918-449-6513
fax: 918-449-6146

stephan_sargent@yahoo.com

INTERNATIONAL PROJECT

The Oklahoma Reading Association international project is to make a donation to the Nassau Reading Council for their work in promoting literacy in Guatemala. The International Projects coordinator is

Patty Puroff
2914 East 82 nd Place
Tulsa , OK 74137
918-494-9802

patty.puroff@cox.net

NEWSPAPER IN EDUCATION PROJECT

Why should I use newspapers in my classroom?

What does the research say?

A 2005 study by Stephan Earl Sargent, Ed.D. (College of Education, Northeastern State University, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma), examined differences in attitudes toward reading among 3rd, 4th and 5th graders using the Elementary Reading Attitude Survey.

All students were tested on reading attitudes in the fall of 2004 and then tested again in April 2005. Sargent's findings were dramatic. Students who used newspapers regularly throughout the year with the Newspapers in Education Program had a mean score that was eight percent higher than the control group, while the control group's scores had a slight drop. Sargent's conclusion:

Regular use of the Newspapers in Education Program positively impacts the reading attitudes of students in the third, fourth and fifth-grades.

A 2002 study by Dan Sullivan School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota) measured the impact of NIE programs in 22 cities across the country. In each city the study compared schools that used NIE newspapers with those that did not, using the local or state reading test. The findings concluded:

• On average, students who use the newspaper in school scored 10 percent better on standardized reading tests than students who did not.
• Students had as much as a 29 percent increase in test scores in the newspaper group in schools with a high percentage of low-income, non-English speaking or minority students.
• In all cases, the more newspapers that were used throughout the year, the greater the gain in test scores.

Source: Downloaded from http://nieonline.com/detroit/details.cfm?feature=services on July 20, 2006

ORA Newspapers in Education
Audra Plummer
Rt. 3, Box 262
Pauls Valley, OK 73075
home: 405-238-4659
cell: 405-659-3912
work: 405-366-5914
fax: 405-366-5916

aperry@norman.k12.ok.us